Bow guide



Jan. 13, 1931. F. J. BATTAMS BOW GUIDE Filed March 15v, 1929 avm-raft /-d@ rfa/v1.5'

Patented Jan. 13, 1931 PAAT oFFice rmincisV JosIAH B'A'rrAMs, oF any1., WALES BOW GUIDE Application filed March k13, 1929, Serial No. 346,764, and in Great. lil-itam March 16,192.8.

This invention relates to bow-guidesfor violins and similar stringed musical instruments which are played by means of a bow, and has among `its objects to provide an imr proved and simpliiied construction of bowguide of the kind adapted to be clipped to the finger-board and to provide a stop determining the extent to which the bow may bemoved away from the bridge in playing. It has before been proposed to provide a bow-guide of the kind referred to comprising a U-shaped piece of wood or the like arranged over the free end of the fingerboard and clamped theretoV by frictional engagement with the edges thereof.

According to the present invention, I provide a bow-guidecoinprising a spring clipportion having oppositely disposed Acurved or channelled partsY adapted to extend 20 around and to grip the respective lateral edges of the finger-board of the instrument and provided with a projection extending towards the bridge and forming a longitudinal guide or fence for the bow at right angles to the strings for the purpose of limiting the extent'ito which the bow may be .moved away from the bridge in playing. Means such as a transversely extending bolt andnut may be provided if desired to cause the clip to engage-the edges of the fingerboard Amore firmly and "thereby to render the attachment of the device more secure. Preferably the projecting part forming the guide comprises a strip of soft felt or equivalent material serving to protect the side or back of the bow or the hair thereof from damage. Y

In order that the present invention may 4,0 be clearly understood and more readily carried into effect, it is hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying draw.- ings, in which Y i i Y Figure l is a perspective Viewv of an iini5 provedbow-guidey and tone-improver con-y vand` side structed in accordance with the present invention; f

Figure Q/is an end elevation thereofshow-l ing same applied to the finger-board of an instrument;` A1 V Figures 3 and 4;. shofwin end elevation y elevation respectively a. slightly modified form of device.. v i As shown andrreferring generally tothe accompanying drawings, the'improvedY bowguide or fence 'and tone-improver in both formsV comprises a substantially C-shaped or'three-si'ded rectangular,` clip a of spring metal orv other suitable or preferred inaterial,which is adapted-to be clipped over the edges of the finger board?)- of the instrument atits inner end so as to provide a longitudinal guide for the bowk in a plane atright anglesgto'thestrngs c. The clip a itself 'may conveniently be` formed of spring band metal, such as steel, andgit is provided at its free ends with inwardly directed opensided loops (l, adapted to embrace or clip on the side edges ofthe aforesaid finger board b,'tl ius as the arrangement shown in Fig- 7 ures 3 and 4 enablingy the guide or fence and tone improver to be sprung'ory clipped 'into position and rigidly retained in place by the tension of the Springs alone. If preferred, however, l may provide a fasteningbolt 'e and finger nut j? to make thetixing more permanent` .and also` give a 'somewhat wider range ofadjustment. suitably sef cure to, orl provide in connection with the clip a proyecting strip gof Soft felt or seine equivalent material lwinch will not damage the side or back of thebow or the 'ha-ir,y thereof or cause disagreeable noises when contact is made therewith.`

yIn vthe preferred construction shown in Figuresl l and 2 the clip t is `*formed with a fenceportion al .of substantial dimensions which is also'spac'ed somewhat in advance of the end ofthe finger board or towards the bridge Qt 'the instrument e0 as te ensure,

play nearer the bridge il required und it this fence portion a' which serves to curry the l'clt portioil 37. .In thc construction shown in Figures l und -l the side of the l"lip itsell forms the guide in conjunction with the projecting telt strip.

In use it is simply necessary to spring or clip the bow guide und tone impr-over on to the end of the linger board of the violin or other 'instrument with the projecting telt strip g directed towards the bridge, und then it run readily be seen whether the bow is being held correctly :it right ingles to the strings of the instrument und :it n, proper distunce ifroin the bridge :is required, und this without any restraint on the ,tree movenicnt of the bow. In other words, the bow is free to be tilted about its own longitudinal exis usis required in order to produce the correct tone from the instrument, whilst in no way detructing `from the vulue of the guide :is :in indicator oli the position ol' the bow.

The guide und tone improver cnn be udlisted for use to any convenient positionA in relation to the linger-board enabling students to pructise at slightly dil'lerent distances from the bridge, which practise is essential to obtain the diilerent graduations of tone.

The improved bow-guide will be found to be extremely useful not only to pupils when exercising or receiving instruction, but also to more experienced players for tonal ellccts.

l. A bow guide comprising a clip formed to engage the respective lateral edges of the linger-board oi? e stringed musical instrument having e finger-board and bridge, means whereby the edges of the clip muy be moved toward one another to grip the finber-board7 an extension from und rigid with the clip including u supporting portion disposed parallel to thc bridge beyond the end oit' the linger-board when the clip is in place, und :i flexible guide element carried by suid supporting portion,

Q. A bow guide comprising e, clip formed to engage the respective lateral edges ot thc linger-boord of n. stringed mnsicul instru ment l'niving u linger-boord und bridge, moons whereby the edges oit the clip nniy be moved toward one :mother to grip the luterzil edges olf the tiiigijei--bofird1 :in extension Vl'ioiu und .rigid with the clip including u supporting portion disposed parallel to the bridge beyond the end of the linger-bouril when the clip is in place, und u flexible guide element carried by seid supporting portion, seid guide being extended laterally beyond the Hilger-board to insure accurate guiding of the bow during playing and maintaining the bow in close relation to the bridge. v

A bow guide comprising ti clip formed to engage the respective lateral edges of the linger-board oi' u stringed musical. instruincnt lui-ving u, linger-boord und bridge, means wlicreby the edges of the clip muy be moved toward one another to grip the lin4 ger-board, :in extension from und rigid with the clip including :L supporting portion disposed perallel to the bridge beyond the end ol the fingerboard when the clip is in place7 und e strip of felt carried by Suid supporting portion.

In testimony I have hereunto signed my nnne.

fill. 

